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Adele - If It Hadn’t Been For Love Chords

ChordsAm, F, E, C, G, Dm
Strumming↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

AmIneverwouldhavehitchhikedtoBirmingham,ifithadn’tbeenforlove
AmIneverwouldhavecaughtthetraintoLouisiana,ifitFhadn’tbeenforlove
AmNeverwouldhaverunthroughtheblindingrain,Fwithoutonedollartomyname
FIfithadn’tbeen,ifitEhadn’tbeenforAmlove,AmIneverwouldhaveseenthetroublethatI’min
AmIfithadn’tbeenforlove,AmIwouldhavebeengonelikeawaywardwind
IfitFhadn’tbeenforlove,Amnobodyknowsitbetterthanme
FIwouldn’tbewishingIwasfree,Fifithadn’tbeen,ifitEhadn’tbeenforAmlove
CFourcoldGwallsDmagainstmyAmwill,atCleastIGknowhe’sDmlyingAmstill
CFourcoldGwallsDmwithoutAmparole,CLordhaveGmercyDmonmyAmsoul
AmNeverwouldhavegonetothatsideoftown,Amifithadn’tbeenforlove
AmNeverwouldhavetookamindtotrackhimdown,ifitFhadn’tbeenforlove.
AmIneverwouldhaveloadedupa.44,Fputmyselfbehindajailhousedoor
IfFithadn’tbeen,ifitEhadn’tbeenforAmlove.(Riff)
CFourcoldGwallsDmagainstmyAmwill,atCleastIGknowhe’sDmlyingAmstill
CFourcoldGwallsDmwithoutAmparole,CLordhaveGmercyDmonmyAmsoul
AmIneverwouldhavehitchhikedtoBirmingham,Amifithadn’tbeenforlove
AmIneverwouldhavecaughtthetraintoLouisiana,ifitFhadn’tbeenforlove
AmIneverwouldhaveloadedupa.44,Fputmyselfbehindajailhousedoor
IfitFhadn’tbeen,ifitEhadn’tbeenforAmlove
IfitFhadn’tbeen,ifitEhadn’tbeenforAmlove
IfitFhadn’tbeen,ifitEhadn’tbeenforAmlove
ArtistAdele
Album21
GenresPop
Year2011
KeyAm
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play If It Hadn't Been For Love on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Adele - If It Hadn't Been For Love on guitar requires 6 chords and 7 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↓↑-↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.

If It Hadn't Been For Love uses these transitions most often: Am → F (10), Am → C (8), and C → G (8). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with Am - F chord transition.

1. Am → F chord transition

Here's how to move from Am to F:

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on E string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to G string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.
  4. Place pinky on D string fret 3.

This transition appears in the verse, played 10 times.

Am to F

2. F → E chord transition

Switching from F to E:

  1. While playing F, lift your pinky from D string fret 3.
  2. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on G string fret 1.
  3. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to A string fret 2.
  4. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on D string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

F to E

3. E → Am chord transition

Switching from E to Am:

  1. Lift your index finger from G string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from A string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from D string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the verse, played 6 times.

E to Am

4. Am → C chord transition

Here's how to move from Am to C:

  1. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  2. Keep middle finger on D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

Am to C

5. C → G chord transition

To move from C to G:

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

6. G → Dm chord transition

To move from G to Dm:

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 3 and place it on B string fret 3.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

7. Dm → Am chord transition

To move from Dm to Am:

  1. Lift your index finger from E string fret 1 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from G string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from B string fret 3 and place it on G string fret 2.

This transition appears in the chorus, played 8 times.

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in If It Hadn't Been For Love.

  • If It Hadn't Been For Love includes 58 chord transitions, 7 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • If It Hadn't Been For Love contains 2 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how If It Hadn't Been For Love connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After Am, the most likely next chords across Chordier are F (26%), G (21%), and C (16%).
    • Am → F: 26%
    • Am → C: 16%
    After F, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (40%), G (21%), and Am (11%).
    • F → Am: 11%
    • F → E: 1%